Chapter 1

2047

I had always been clumsy there had never been any doubt about that, my mom had always thought it quite a cute trait but for me it was damn annoying.

I was sat in the hospital cubicle awaiting my x-ray results to see how broken my arm actually was. I knew it was definitely broken I had broken enough bones in the past to recognise the signs; I cursed my father for passing on his lack of co ordination to me, of all the things I could have inherited.

In all my twenty six years I probably knew hospital procedures better than some of the doctors, I could only pray that this break wouldn't too severe and would be healed in time for the big day.

A doctor swept into the room holding a clipboard and a brown envelope containing, I assumed, my x-rays.

"Well Miss Lacey it doesn't look too bad but I think we will put it in plaster for the full six weeks just to make certain." I nodded. I knew what he meant; he wanted to make certain I didn't break it again or damage it further.

It was silly really, I mean regular people can fall off a relatively small ladder and not even bruise but not me, not Cara Lacey!

Finally I was plastered and ready to go home and he was waiting for me by the hospital doors. He smiled at me in his awkward way and I returned the same back and gestured to my newly potted arm. He held his arms out to me as I got closer and pulled me in for a warm familiar embrace, I breathed deeply and could smell his aftershave and the musty smell that clung to him from his old damp car but I didn't care because it made me feel safe.

"Let's get you home". He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and led me out to the car park where his 1967 MGB awaited us; he opened the passenger door for me which I found hard to get used because it was on the wrong side of the car!

I remember the first time I saw it I had laughed so hard tears came running down my cheeks, he had been offended at first and the hurt had physically stung on his face. I had never meant to be mean and really I wasn't it was just with all the rust visible around the wheel arches and the way the front left wing was blue and the rest of the car was white, it had reminded me of my own rusty Chevvy pickup truck. I knew then that I had found a kindred spirit.

He was so proud of it especially with it being of British import origin even though it always freaked me out that the passenger side was on the driver's side or at least where the driver's side should be!

He drove me to my little apartment and again came round to open the door for me; he was such a gentleman.

"You coming in for a while?" I asked him as I got out the car.

"Yeah sure but I can't stop long, I've got an early start in the morning" he explained and I smiled.

We took the elevator up the seven floors to my apartment and once inside he fussed around making sure I had a pillow to rest my arms and making me a hot chocolate, I really was so lucky to have someone who loved and cared about me as much as he did.

"Right, is that everything? Can I get you anything else before I leave?" He stood with his hands on his hips looking around the apartment.

"No I'm good thank you and you know you don't need to fuss, I'm a pro after all" I laughed and he rolled his eyes.

"Okay baby I need to get home now, early night and all that" he bent down to where I was sat on the sofa and kissed me softly on the lips before heading for the door.

"Ben?" I called after him and then waited for him to turn around "I love you".

"Love you too" he smiled back then closed the door gently behind him.

I snuggled contently into the plump cushions of my sofa, resting my arm carefully on the pillow Ben had placed for me, the television was on but I wasn't really watching it was just some old film and although I usually liked the classics my mind was just elsewhere. I was mainly thinking about the new house, it was beautiful and it gave me goose bumps just thinking about it, it wasn't that it was big by any stretch of the imagination but it was going to be ours and that is what made it special. That was where I had unfortunately broken my arm, I had been up a relatively small step ladder putting up some new curtains on large bay window when somehow my footing got lost and the ladders slid from under me. It's bizarre really because the ladders had non slip rubber feet but it had always seemed that fate was working against me in the accident stakes, although it had helped me to meet Ben so I can't say it's all bad.

I flicked through the channels on the TV and settled on the news, it looked liked there had been a few killings around town lately and they had reason to believe a serial killer was at work. I shuddered and got up to double lock the door, with my luck I refused to leave anything to chance! I will feel so much better when Ben and I are finally living together, not that it would stop a crazed serial killer but it's that whole safety in numbers thing that makes you feel more secure.

I switched off the TV with the remote control and laid down on the sofa, pulling the blanket I kept hung over the back of the sofa onto me. I could have gone to bed properly but there is nothing worse than a big empty double bed and I wasn't at work the next day so I didn't care if I didn't get a full nights rest. My eyes closed and soon I was in a deep sleep.

I woke and sat bolt upright running my only free hand through my hair which was now damp from extreme sweating. It was the dream again or nightmare or whatever you would wish to call it.

I'd had this dream on and off for as long as I can remember but no matter how many times I had seen the same things it still scared the shit out of me, maybe watching the news before I went to sleep didn't help either and only added fuel to the fire.

I laid back down once my heart stopped having palpitations and I had again checked to make sure the door was locked and the windows too. I managed to go back to sleep and this time it was dreamless.

AN: I've had this story in my head for a while and it wouldn't wait any longer so I decided to start writing it. I don't really want to explain too much as it will give away too much of the actual plot, but if you stick with it and keep reading I promise all will become clear and everything will make sense. It will only include mild references to the Twilight Saga storyline but will of course include a few of the original characters. I'm quite excited about this story and where it will be going and hope you will be too.

RosettaPressta x x

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